The US government may be forced to release photographs of Osama bin Laden's body after the Associated Press news agency lodged a request under the Freedom of Information Act asking to see them. The request, which was lodged on Monday, also asks for video taken by military personnel during the raid and on the USS Carl Vinson, the ship that conducted Bin Laden's burial in the North Arabian Sea.

The Obama administration decided not to publish pictures of Bin Laden, with the president warning it could inflame tensions and the case could end up in court. The government has 20 days to respond to the request.

"I think it's going to be a hard road," said Scott Hodes, a former Freedom of Information and Privacy Act lawyer at the justice department.

"It's not inconceivable a court is going to say to release them. But I think the government will fight because it's made its decision."